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CSF PCR
Aka: CSF PCR, CSF Polymerase Chain Reaction, Cerebrospinal Fluid PCR
- Indications
- Suspected Enterovirus Meningitis
- Allows for early hospital discharge
- Suspected Herpes Simplex VirusEncephalitis
- Suspected CytomegalovirusEncephalitis
- Preparations: Available PCR tests
- Viral Meningitis sensitivity overall: 95-100%
- HSV Type I sensitivity: 100%
- Epstein-Barr Virus sensitivity: 100%
- Enterovirus sensitivity: 100%
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- PCR is gold standard
- Tuberculosis sensitivity: 54-100%
- Acute Neurosyphilis
- Lower sensitivity in chronic Neurosyphilis
- West Nile Virus
- Varicella Zoster Virus
- Advantages
- High sensitivity and Specificity
- Fast
- Requires only small CSF volumes
- Disadvantages
- Expensive
- References
- Seehusen (2003) Am Fam Physician 68:1103-8 [PubMed]